Are you bold?
My friend, Mark Prasek, who we all call Coach, is founder and host of pjnet.tv. Because Coach is knowledgeable, personable, and a technology whiz, he’s perfect for the role of interviewing guests Monday through Thursday evenings on pjnet.tv. He also has us frequently ask ourselves, “Are you bold?”
Now, Coach uses different phrasing when he questions interviewees and listeners about our service to Jesus. He asks:
“What’s the boldest thing you’ve ever done for Jesus?”
“And when was that?”
Coach gets right to the point doesn’t he?
Scripture tells us we are given gifts to use in service to God and others AND that our Father will be with us as we use those gifts in His service:
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10-11)
Are you bold?
Webster’s* defines bold as “daring; ready to meet danger; courageous; brave; intrepid; valorous; fearless; cheeky..”
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
Coach Mark recently stepped out in boldness–took a leap of faith into unchartered territory. He planned and implemented a Christian Expo–no, two of them! These events involved “everyday” people as speakers to share their testimonies and faith journeys.
But when God is with us–the ordinary becomes extraordinary–we become bold!
I was blessed to be part of both these events and can boldly say–These Christian Expos were extraordinary. Speakers, guests, and exhibitors were richly blessed. But these events would not have occurred if Coach Mark hadn’t stepped boldly into the unknown–taking the pjnet.tv studio out among the people–seeking “everyday” speakers instead of professionals (although I contend that God’s people are extraordinary in their “everydayness”).
Christian Expo, Spartanburg, South Carolina
Are we daring and bold in service?
- If our work is in service to Jesus, are we exhibiting boldness?
- If we don’t have complete confidence in ourselves as a teacher, speaker, role model, but God calls us to step out in service (and we do it), are we bold?
- Is working behind the scenes, quietly and humbly, an example of boldness?
- If we’re an introvert, but find courage enough to teach, speak, write, share the Good News of Jesus with others, and be a positive role model–are we bold?
- If we’re an extrovert and encourage others to step ahead of us to share the Good News of Jesus, are we an example of boldness?
Our Father gives us the strength and courage to be bold. Are we responding to the call?
Can you share a way you are being bold in service to our Lord to encourage others?
*Webster’s Dictionary. (1983). Ottenheimer Publishers, Inc. U.S.A.
“Am I bold?”; a difficult question for me to answer Ms. Katherine Pasour. In some ways, perhaps. As a Christian writer, I put my words “out there” for others to read, contemplate, and, I hope, act upon. As a Christian, I share my faith through my actions and words. Are these things “bold”? I’m not sure. I don’t don a sandwich board or a megaphone and stand on the street corners pronouncing Christ’s message. I don’t stand before large crowds and deliver the messages Christ puts on my heart in the way of sermons. And I don’t have a large, multi-colored billboard in my front pasture with the words of John 3:16 emblazoned across it. Instead, I quietly do my best to show Christ’s presence in everything I do. When I do these things in His name, then I believe I am inviting Him to “live through me” and I trust that He will use me as He sees fit. As Paul teaches, we each have gifts. Coach Mark’s is to use his great voice, outgoing personality, and technical gifts to provide a platform for every day Christians to share their message of hope with the world. My quiet, introverted self, is to use the gifts and talents God has blessed me with in His service. Together however, we can reach the world. Being bold, for me, is taking that step, opening my mouth, or using whatever resources God has blessed me with, in His service. It’s not being afraid to be seen as one of God’s children in this world. It’s when we’re boldly different from the world that we draw the world’s attention. The question then becomes, what does the world see when you’ve gotten their attention. I know what they see in you my friend, and I pray that some see the same in me. God’s blessings ma’am.
We are a lot alike, my friend. “My quiet introverted self” cringes when I stand up in front of a group to share my testimony or take a stand on an issue of righteousness and justice. But as we know, God equips us and gives us courage to follow His commands. Our Savior showed us peace, mercy, grace, and love and guides us on the path to live out His light and love to others. Are we perfect? No, but He forgives us when we fall short, gives us a hand up out of the dirt, and sets us back on the path with an encouraging, “Try again!” Thank you, J.D., for being a role model and mentor for us. May God bless you and your family, on your ongoing journey of faith and service.
I love the reassurance and the challenge of Deuteronomy 31:6.
Me, too, Diana. Thank you.
My family would attest that I’ve been a risk taker most of my life. Learning to fly an airplane at 17. Starting a solo medical practice. Traveling to far away places on medical mission trips.
These are a few of my adventures. But writing about Jesus is a whole new level of boldness that was a bit scary at first. Although now that I’m reaching out with the Gospel in the written word, it’s pushed me to be bolder when I speak to tell others about Jesus. God is doing a new thing in this risk taking girl and it’s good.
Thank you for sharing, Suzanne. As a shy introvert, it has taken me a while to become more bold, but I’m working on it and God continues to guide me on the journey. Thank you for taking additional steps in boldness to write about Jesus and share with others. May God bless you on your bold adventure as you write for Him.
I’m not a risk taker, but I’m thankful for the times I stepped out of my safe space into an adventure. Some I hope not to relive–others I can only hope and pray to do again.
In all, may I be bold when He wants me to be. And humble in all else.
Thanks and God bless, Katherine.
Your prayer is inspiring, Nancy, “May I be bold when He wants me to be.” That is truth. There are times to be bold and times to be silent and humble and God will guide along either path that He chooses. But we must seek His guidance. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and insight.
Thank you for sharing Coach’s Christian Expos. I’m glad they were successes.
I’m not bold in the way that I jump in and blaze a new trail. But I’m happy to say that I’ve said yes to serving Jesus in ways that took me way out of my comfort zone. After I prayed about it of course!
When I gather my courage, with God’s steadfast guidance, I’m much like you, Candyce. He takes me out of my comfort zone, but is with me through whatever task He has led me to. Thank you for sharing.
Great questions to ponder. And Coach is so wonderful in all he shares and the ways he challenges us. I pray for boldness in my Faith daily. Thanks Katherine
I pray for boldness, too, Yvonne. You are right, Coach offers us a challenge to be bold in sharing the Good News of Jesus with others–and to live a life in service to our Lord. Wishing you joy and blessings.
I would say I probably lean toward the bold side, Katherine. I always feel the need to put my money where my mouth is, so to speak. When I talk boldly about God, I find Him goading me to act on my convictions. For example, He’s sent me to four continents to share the gospel. That was never on my radar. Now I’m raising an unplanned teen. You never know what God will do!
Annie, I greatly admire your boldness in sharing the Gospel in other countries. You’ve truly answered God’s call to service. Now, raising a teenager? That most definitely requires boldness. Thank you for being a light in a dark world. Praying God’s blessings for you and your family.
The Lord has challenged me to be bolder lately in various aspects of my life. It’s so easy to be bold and then fall into being comfortable at that level and not getting bolder. Praying we can all keep moving forward being bold for Jesus.
I agree, Jen. I get comfortable at a certain level and would rather not feel the need to step out in boldness again and again. But, it’s what we’re called to do. Thank you for your ministry and continuing to pray for you.
I don’t consider myself a bold person. But it took boldness (the ready to meet danger kind) for me to teach middle school and high school for ten years. And this introverted gal traveled to Africa twice without her husband (whom she leans heavily upon) to share the Gospel because the Lord said, GO!
You are VERY brave, LuAnn. I so admire middle school teachers. It’s such a challenging time for that age group and teachers feel the brunt of it. And to go to Africa–twice! As a fellow introvert, I salute you. That was so brave. Thank you for sharing the Good News of Jesus with others.